The agency boasted the record-breaking deportation of 396,906 individuals in fiscal year 2011, labeling its recent efforts to combat illegal immigration a large success. Yet, according to a recent Politico article by Representative Lamar Smith (R–TX), the Administration’s numbers appear to be largely smoke and mirrors. “Take away the illusion,” Smith writes, “and the facts show that the administration conjures up its deportation statistics.”

It appears that DHS has artificially inflated its deportation numbers by including figures on voluntary removals. What this means is that those individuals who agree to be returned to their home countries are counted in the same way as those who are ordered to be deported by the courts. Unlike when an individual is removed under deportation orders, those who leave under voluntary removal can apply to legally return to the United States without penalty.

This “fudging” of the numbers comes on the heels of recent Administration decisions that have served to weaken immigration enforcement within the United States, including the reduction of worksite raids, an emphasis on criminal deportations, and an increase in the use of prosecutorial discretion. Earlier this year, for instance, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the Administration would review roughly 300,000 pending deportation cases to weed out “high priority” criminal alien cases from other “low priority” cases that would be dropped.

So while the Administration is throwing numbers around, seeking to appear tough on illegal immigration, in reality it is doing just the opposite. So much so that many have labeled the Administration’s actions a back-door amnesty.

Rather than continuing to erode key interior enforcement measures and perpetuate the message that once an illegal immigrant has entered the country it is easy to stay, it’s time Congress and the Administration step up and restore credibility to U.S. immigration laws.

The Daily Signal depends on the support of readers like you. Donate now

Join The Discussion

We need to make it very unprofitable to employ illegal immigrants
We need A law that states under no uncertain terms
If you employ an illegal immigrant The fine is 1000,000.00 per illegal employee
No if's ,no and's , no but's
It does not matter if you have employed them for years or a day
Once this is done there will no longer be a problem because it will not be profitable to hire them
And if they cannot find employment they will have no reason to illegally immigrate
Problem Solved

The "smoke and mirrors,' described accurately by Lamar Smith, TX, the farcical claim by DHS for outstanding felony arrest warrants, is about 1.5 %, of the actual number, for total outstanding warrants across America.
John Morton's gleeful announcement for the recent arrests suggest, that he has finally had an epiphany as to WHYwe are paying his salary.
When our own Govt openingly declares lawlessness on it's citizen in direct violation of all Federal laws , to protect non-citizens, people die in a variety of ways.
No one knows the number of law enforcers that have died becasue od deportation lawlessness by illegal repeat offeneders.
Sex offenders, child molestation, rape and child abuse represent about 35% of the cases. Thousands of cases of vehicular homicide cases from across America were continue to be ignored by every court system in America.
AHHH yes, lest we forget , here it is again,
Our Govt led by Obamaism has lived up to his promise for" hope and change", telling every court in our land, which laws we will enforce, and which laws will be ignored, for the purpose of,"class warfare."

The question for comparison purposes should be does every administration include voluntary departures as part of their deportation number. If for example, Bush also included them, then a comparison with Obama would not be fair without them. Either way, I think it is fair to say that the Obama administration has deported more people than any other president. Any claim of smoke and mirrors is in of itself just "smoke and mirrors".

Len you are delusional on this issue and certainly have no knowledge of what the DOJ is doing right under your nose. You also have no knowledge of the continue violence on your border and growing worse. Educate yourself, your life may depend on it. ( H.F. embed)
http:// :www.southernexposuredocumentary.us/http://www.borderlandbeat.comhttp://www.predatoryaliens.com
You suggest the voluntary departure?
with all welfare your paying for in your State ( you can look it up) and Cartel drug cells reported to be operational in over 108 American cities, under the banner of free enterprise, do you think anyone will be asking for a free plane ride home?
We have thousands of illegals with outstanding warrants that must be deported and court systems throughout America clogs with immigration lawyers who are fleecing your State dollars and mine for another "stay"
But your correct , It's not "smoke and mirrors" it's the biggest shame job by your Dept of Justice led by a Eric Holder whose illegal activities will go down in American history comparable to that of any traitors that has damaged our country that took decades to repair.

You will find that several times in the history of the United States, Mexicans by the thousands were sent back, most against their will. A lot went rather than be deported..

Eisenhower was the lastest to act and the amount of illegal's was huge…. Reagan gave Amnesty, because the Damocraps wanted him to and put a rather large carrot out for him to nibble on… A move I am sure he regreted… I know that I do!

Don’t have time to read the Washington Post or New York Times? Then get The Morning Bell, an early morning edition of the day’s most important political news, conservative commentary and original reporting from a team committed to following the truth no matter where it leads.

Email address

Ever feel like the only difference between the New York Times and Washington Post is the name? We do. Try the Morning Bell and get the day’s most important news and commentary from a team committed to the truth in formats that respect your time…and your intelligence.